How To Write an Instructional Designer Resume
To write a winning instructional design resume, demonstrate subject matter expertise in education technology, learning management systems (LMS), and instructional design principles. Highlight the impact of your professional achievements on staff development and customer training by incorporating key metrics and monetary figures. Read on for valuable tips and insights to help translate your career into an accomplishment-driven resume.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Making a strong impression early is important to grab the attention of potential employers. Open with a sentence that includes your job title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that align with the organization’s needs.
Keep the profile summary short and ensure it speaks overall to why you’re a good candidate and what your resume might show in that regard. Think of it as an abstract and your resume as the curriculum. The abstract should capture and hint at a few of the details most relevant to the target audience for the document.
Senior-Level Profile Example
An Instructional Designer with 10+ years of experience specializing in curriculum development, eLearning, and content strategy. A strong history of collaborating with cross-functional teams to build innovative learning solutions. Adept at using learning technology, universal design principles, and blended approaches to design programs for target audiences.
Entry-Level Profile Example
An Instructional Designer with entry-level experience specializing in adult education, learning management systems (LMS), curriculum development, and E-learning. Adept at using instructional design principles to develop and implement high-quality adult education programs.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
To craft an accomplishment-driven professional experience section, brand yourself as a thought leader by highlighting the nuances of your instructional design background. Emphasize your unique approach to curriculum development and education. For instance, you might mention your experience integrating universal design principles into learning programs. This is an important concept to touch on, as organizations are heavily adopting universal design due to its adaptability across diverse student populations.
Also, incorporate key performance indicators (KPIs), percentages, and hard data to demonstrate the positive impact of your learning strategies and training programs. Within the instructional design field, your achievements can be quantified in a number of ways, such as student engagement, test scores, and student enrollment.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Instructional Designer, Healthcare Learning Center, Boston, MA
October 2016 – Present
- Manage, develop, and implement training curriculum and resources for medical education programs, including content strategy, course design, and eLearning modules
- Coordinate with subject matter experts to integrate universal design principles across all courses and learning formats and ensure the accessibility of educational materials across diverse student populations, resulting in a 30% increase in student engagement
- Oversee the transition to eLearning classrooms and digital curriculums during Covid-19 to retain existing students and ensure the continued delivery of high-quality medical training
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Instructional Designer, Genesis Software Inc., Detroit, MI
May 2021 – Present
- Lead the development of customer training materials for a suite of software products using adult learning theory and instructional design principles
- Create and define content and training curriculum for technical and non-technical audiences, including eLearning modules and webinars
- Analyze feedback from users on the effectiveness of course material and identify areas of improvement, resulting in a 10% increase in customer satisfaction
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Education credentials demonstrate your qualifications and tell employers you put in the work to acquire the right skills and knowledge. Since employers in many instructional fields — corporate and otherwise — only want to hire individuals with specific degrees, including yours is a must for passing through initial screening processes.
Typically, it’s best to include your highest level of education first. However, if you have a degree or certificate the employer specifically mentions as desirable, ensure it’s included and easy to see.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Instructional Design
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI | 2021
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
Become an Instructional Designer, LinkedIn Learning | 2021
4. List pertinent key skills
List relevant skills on your resume and include mentions of them in your professional experience section. When possible, provide examples that help employers understand how you can leverage these skills to create a positive business impact.
For example, you might state you have corporate training experience and that you’ve worked on knowledge management projects to increase compliance with industry regulations. Or, you might discuss your project management experience and how it enables you to efficiently complete large instructional design projects.
Some common instructional design skills are listed below:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Adult learning | Articulate storyline |
| Content development | Corporate training |
| Cross-functional collaboration | Cross-training |
| Curriculum design | Curriculum development |
| Differentiated instruction | e-learning |
| Instructional design | LMS |
| Microsoft Office Suite | Program development |
| Project management | Quality assessment |
| Staff development | Student assessment |
| Student engagement | Talent development |
| Team leadership | Training and development |
| Training manuals | Universal design |
| Vertical alignment | |
How To Pick the Best Instructional Designer Resume Template
Choose a template that looks professional. This means opting for one that uses consistent fonts and spacing and includes white space to support scanning and avoid visual fatigue. While an info-packed resume is great, the document must also be user-friendly for readers.
Consider some of the same traits you would when creating curriculum items for learners, such as scannable sections and well-organized content. Choose a template you can work comfortably with, and avoid anything with design elements that are frustrating or difficult for you to use.
Instructional Designer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Jasmine Brown
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 W Adams Ave, Detroit, MI 12345
Profile
An Instructional Designer with entry-level experience specializing in adult education, learning management systems (LMS), curriculum development, and E-learning. Adept at using instructional design principles to develop and implement high-quality adult education programs.
Professional Experience
Instructional Designer, Genesis Software Inc., Detroit, MI
May 2021 – Present
- Lead the development of customer training materials for a suite of software products using adult learning theory and instructional design principles
- Create and define content and training curriculum for technical and non-technical audiences, including eLearning modules and webinars
- Analyze feedback from users on the effectiveness of course material and identify areas of improvement, resulting in a 10% increase in customer satisfaction
Instructional Design Internship, Adult Learning Pros., Detroit, MI
January 2021– May 2021
- Provided support to the instructional design team for the development of curriculum and adult learning training materials for staff development
- Created visual assets, graphics, and presentations for training seminars and refined content to ensure accessibility across a wide range of audiences
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Instructional Design
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, September 2017 – May 2021
Key Skills
- Instructional Design
- Adult Learning Theory
- eLearning Modules
- Learning Management Systems (LMS)
- Articulate Storyline
Certifications
- Become an Instructional Designer (LinkedIn Learning), 2021
Raymond Ortiz
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Santa Maria, San Francisco, CA 12345
Profile
An Instructional Designer with five years of experience specializing in eLearning, curriculum development, continuous improvement, and Articulate Storyline. A proven track record of developing and enhancing training programs and curricula for large organizations.
Adept at identifying learning needs and training approaches for diverse student populations.
Professional Experience
Instructional Designer, Advanced Education Consulting, San Francisco, CA
May 2019 – Present
- Coordinate with instructional designers and the product development team to develop curriculum, courses, and eLearning products for small businesses and enterprise organizations, including optimizing content and training materials
- Evaluate student progress and identify opportunities to improve product features and training materials, resulting in a 15% increase in student engagement
- Analyze performance data and student feedback to refine eLearning modules, resulting in a 20% increase in test scores and a 45% increase in student enrollment
Instructional Designer, Talent Builders Inc., San Francisco, CA
May 2017– May 2019
- Partnered with internal technology teams to create new courses, education programs, training modifications, and the customer-facing website for instructional design products
- Utilized learning management systems (LMS) and Articulate Storyline to create training scripts, video segments, and instructional guides for adult learners
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Instructional Design
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, September 2013 – May 2017
Key Skills
- Instructional Design
- Curriculum Development
- Articulate Storyline
- eLearning
- Continuous Improvement
Certifications
- Instructional Design Foundations, Coursera, 2018
- Become an Instructional Designer, LinkedIn Learning, 2017
Meera Patel
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bridge Street, Boston, MA 12345
Profile
An Instructional Designer with 10+ years of experience specializing in curriculum development, eLearning, and content strategy. A strong history of collaborating with cross-functional teams to build innovative learning solutions. Adept at using learning technology, universal design principles, and blended approaches to design programs for target audiences.
Professional Experience
Instructional Designer, Healthcare Learning Center, Boston, MA
October 2016 – Present
- Manage, develop, and implement training curriculum and resources for medical education programs, including content strategy, course design, and eLearning modules
- Coordinate with subject matter experts to integrate universal design principles across all courses and learning formats and ensure the accessibility of educational materials across diverse student populations, resulting in a 30% increase in student engagement
- Oversee the transition to eLearning classrooms and digital curriculums during Covid-19 to retain existing students and ensure the continued delivery of high-quality medical training
Instructional Design Consultant, Med Education Consulting, Boston, MA
May 2011– October 2016
- Provided consulting services to clients as a subject matter expert in curriculum development and instructional design, which included delivering recommendations for product development, quality assurance, and student engagement
- Identified learning needs for organizations, which included identifying opportunities to improve training programs and learning materials for diverse student populations
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Instructional Design
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- Instructional Design
- Curriculum Development
- Articulate Storyline
- eLearning
- Continuous Improvement
Certifications
- Certified Professional in Talent Development, ATD, 2016
- Instructional Design Pro, Udemy, 2014
- Instructional Design Foundations, Coursera, 2013
Frequently Asked Questions: Instructional Designer Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for instructional designer resumes?+
Action verbs enhance the readability and scannability of your document by adding structure to your sentences and bullet points. When you start phrases with appropriate action verbs, you also tend to automatically write in a more vibrant, dynamic style that’s interesting to readers.
For example, don’t just list “e-learning” as a past duty or skill. Create a more engaging narrative by writing something like “adapted in-person curriculum to support e-learning opportunities.”
Start with some of the action verbs below, which are common for instructional designer resumes, and work in your own options:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapted | Analyzed |
| Customized | Designed |
| Developed | Edited |
| Established | Incorporated |
| Managed | Organized |
| Piloted | Planned |
| Produced | Revised |
| Structured | Synthesized |
| Tested | Updated |
| Validated | Visualized |
How do you align your resume with an instructional designer job description?+
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t provide job market figures specifically for instructional designers, it does offer some data for a closely related job: instructional coordinators. Opportunities for these positions are expected to grow at an average rate through 2032 compared to all other positions in the nation, and aligning your resume to each opportunity can help make you a more competitive candidate.
For example, if the posting places a particular emphasis on education technology and e-learning, you may want to demonstrate your expertise in Articulate Storyline or other instructional design programs. If the company mentions adult learning theory or universal design principles, provide deeper insights into the curriculums you developed and how you enhanced student engagement with educational materials. By tailoring your content toward a specific opportunity, you’ll significantly increase your chances of landing your next interview.
What is the best instructional designer resume format?+
A reverse chronological resume format is the right choice for most instructional design professionals. It’s easy to customize and helps you tell a story about your career progression.
For example, your list of past work experience might help a potential employer see you’ve worked in the ranks to learn an industry from the inside before you stepped into instruction-based roles. If you’re applying for curriculum design for other public or private education work, this format can show off your past teaching or practical education skills and accomplishments.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
You can only include so much information in your resume. That’s where a cover letter comes in. Your instructional designer cover letter helps you make a better first impression and provides some room to tease your top accomplishments or share a bit about your mission or vision as an educator. Start with our teacher resume cover letter example and customize a letter for each resume you send.
